Powder Blues Band

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Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues (aka Powder Blues Band)
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresBlues, jazz
Years active1978–present
MembersTom Lavin
Mike Kalanj
Bill Runge
Vincent Mai
Tony Marryatt
Al Webster
Past membersJack Lavin
Willie MacCalder
Duris Maxwell
Wayne Kozak
Gordon Bertram
David Woodward
Websitehttp://www.powderblues.net

The Powder Blues Band is a Canadian musical band formed in 1978 in Vancouver. Its first album Uncut went double platinum in Canada. The second album Thirsty Ears was similarly popular.

Their best known songs include: "Boppin' with the Blues", "Doin' It Right", "Thirsty Ears", "Hear That Guitar Ring", and "What've I Been Drinkin".

History

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The Powder Blues was founded in 1978 as a house band in Vancouver, British Columbia. The band was founded by brothers Tom Lavin (guitar, vocals), Jack Lavin (bass, vocals), and Willie MacCalder (keyboards, vocals).[1] After playing in local clubs for 18 months,[citation needed] the band released their self-financed and self-produced debut album, Uncut, in 1980, followed by a tour of Canada and the US.[citation needed] The band won the Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year" in 1981.[1] Uncut went double platinum in Canada in 1982, selling over 200,000 copies.[2] Their second album, Thirsty Ears, was released in 1981[1] and was certified platinum in Canada.[2] In 1986, the band won the American W.C. Handy Award for "Foreign Band of the Year".[3] The band's greatest hits album First Decade was released in 1990 and was certified gold.[2]

The band is now known as Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues.[4] They were still touring as of 2024.[5]

The initial lineup of the band consisted of:[1]

  • Tom Lavin – guitar, vocals
  • Jack Lavin – bass
  • Duris Maxwell – drums
  • Will MacCalder – keyboards, vocals
  • Wayne Kozak – saxophone
  • Gordon Bertram – saxophone
  • David Woodward – saxophone

Discography

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Singles

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  • "Doin' It Right" – 1980 (#40 Canada)[6]
  • "Boppin' with the Blues" – 1980 (#88 Canada)[7]
  • "What've I Been Drinkin'" – 1980 (#28 CanAC)[8]
  • "Hear That Guitar Ring" – 1981 (#22 Canada; CanCon)[9] and (#22 CanAO; CanCon)[10]
  • "Thirsty Ears" – 1981 (#17 Canada)[11]
  • "Lovin' Kissin' & Huggin'" – 1981 (#47 Canada)[12]
  • "Joy Ridin'" – 1982
  • "Sooner or Later" – 1982
  • "Should Be You and Me" – 1982
  • "Jump Up" – 1983
  • "Farmer John" – 1983
  • "Roll Over Beethoven" – 1983
  • "I'm on the Road Again" – 1984

Albums

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  • 1979: Uncut (Blue Wave) (#5 Canada)[13])
  • 1980: Uncut [reissue] (Blue Wave/RCA Victor; Liberty)
  • 1981: Thirsty Ears (Liberty) (#11 Canada)[14])
  • 1982: Party Line (Liberty) (#36 Canada)[15]
  • 1983: Powder Blues (Liberty) Note: this is a US only compilation album with the same catalog number as the Canadian Party Line release; it includes 5 tracks from Uncut, 2 tracks from Thirsty Ears and 5 tracks from Party Line.
  • 1983: Red Hot/True Blue (RCA Victor [dbl LP]; Flying Fish [sgl LP]) (#88 Canada; 4 weeks)[16]
  • 1984: Live at Montreux (Blue Wave) recorded 1983
  • 1990: First Decade/Greatest Hits (WEA) compilation
  • 1993: Let's Get Loose (WEA)
  • 1997: Blue Shadows: Lowell Fulson with the Powder Blues Band (Stony Plain) recorded 1981
  • 1997: Live at Montreux [CD reissue] (Blue Wave/Peerless Music)
  • 2001: Swingin' the Blues (Blue Wave/Peerless Music)
  • 2004: Blues + Jazz = BLAZZ! (Blue Wave/Peerless Music)
  • 2007: Platinum (EMI) compilation

Albums not on compact disc

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  • As of 2024, their three most commercially successful albums are not on compact disc: Uncut (1979), Thirsty Ears (1981) and Party Line (1982).
  • Side note: all nine tracks from Uncut are included on the First Decade/Greatest Hits compilation CD.

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (April 2003). All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books (with All Music Guide). p. 446. ISBN 0-87930-736-6.
  2. ^ a b c "Powder Blues." CRIA Database.
  3. ^ "7th Annual Blues Awards Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine." The Blues Foundation.
  4. ^ "Powder Blues celebrating in Ajax". DurhamRegion.com. 9 August 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Tour | Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues". Powderblues.net. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 26, 1980" (PDF).
  7. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - September 6, 1980" (PDF).
  8. ^ "RPM Top 50 AC - October 25, 1980" (PDF).
  9. ^ "RPM Top 30 CanCon Singles - December 30, 1978" (PDF).
  10. ^ "RPM Top 30 AO-CanCon Singles - April 11, 1981" (PDF).
  11. ^ "RPM Top 50 Singles - October 3, 1981" (PDF).
  12. ^ "RPM Top 50 Singles - November 21, 1981" (PDF).
  13. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - August 16, 1980" (PDF).
  14. ^ "RPM Top 50 Albums -October 3, 1981" (PDF).
  15. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - October 30, 1982" (PDF).
  16. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - October 22, 1983" (PDF).
  17. ^ "PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS: Powder Blues". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
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